ACT TWO

FADE IN:

EST. KENNEDY HIGH - DAY

Morning at school.

CUT TO:

INT. THE STAIRS

Josh and Lily are coming down the stairs, hand-in-hand.

SUGAR (O.S.)
Yo! Josh! Lily!

The pair stops and turns around, to see Sugar Daddy coming
down after them.

JOSH
Hey, Shug.

SUGAR
Guys, I really need some advice.

JOSH
What's going on?

SUGAR
Man, it's Carmen. I mean, we had
this thing going.

JOSH
Yeah, I know. I think it's cool.

SUGAR
Yeah, well, that's where it is.
Cool. More like cold. Ice cold.

JOSH
What, she blew you off?

SUGAR
Naw, man, it's not like that.
She...well, she said she needed
"space".
(to Lily)
What is that?

LILY
(considering)
It's what girls say when they need
space.

JOSH
Lil...

LILY
I'm serious. Maybe she just needs
to think it over. You know, it's
not like Carmen's had a lot of
luck where boys are concerned.

SUGAR
Hey, she wanted me to back off, I
backed off. I just wanna know if
there's some light at the end of
this tunnel or not.

LILY
Look, I'll...talk to her. Maybe I
can find out, I don't know, what
she's thinking. But I'm not
promising anything.

SUGAR
Thanks, Lily. I owe you. I mean,
big time.

CUT TO:

INT. SCHOOL HALLWAY

Mary Cherry and Carmen are walking down the corridor.

CARMEN
...I'm telling you, it's
impossible!

MARY CHERRY
But we have to know his schedule
if we're going to successfully
intercept him and insinuate
ourselves into his plans! Like my
Mama says, intelligence is crucial
to any hostile takeover, and
that's what we need!
Intelligence!

CARMEN
(rolling her eyes)
So much for this plan.

MARY CHERRY
What?

CARMEN
Nevermind. Look, I thought you
were the one with all the
contacts.

MARY CHERRY
Oh, that's just in the highly
lucrative field of celebrity
gossip! I don't know anything
when it comes to this school.

CARMEN
(rolling her eyes again)
Uh-huh.

MARY CHERRY
What?

CARMEN
Nothing. Mary Cherry, I can't
find out this manager person's
schedule any better than you can.
You want someone with an inside
track to Principal Krupps' office,
like...like Sam, except I don't
think she's in any shape to help,
or—

MARY CHERRY
(snapping her fingers)
That's IT!

FLIP CUT TO:

INT. ANOTHER SCHOOL HALLWAY - LATER

CLOSE-UP: HARRISON

HARRISON
You want me to do what?

MARY CHERRY
It's real simple, Joe. We just
want you to find out when a
certain somebody is coming to the
school, and exactly where he'll be
when he gets here. You know,
his—his—

CARMEN
Itinerary.

MARY CHERRY
Right!

HARRISON
And this "certain somebody" would
be...?

MARY CHERRY
A certain somebody who can
guarantee the Glamazons triumphant
return to its former shining
radiance.

HARRISON
(to Carmen)
You're going along with this?

CARMEN
(defensively)
I—I just want to get rid of Bring
It.

HARRISON
Hey, I can get behind doing away
with anything that has Nicole's
fingerprints on it. But this
seems...very strange.

MARY CHERRY
Look, we need this information,
and we need it without anyone else
finding out about it. Now, can
you help us or not?

But before Harrison can reply, a swelling tone resounds
through the hallway speakers, and they—and all the students
around them—look up.

KRUPPS (V.O.)
(over the loudspeaker)
Attention, everyone, I have an
announcement to make.
It is my pleasure to announce that
the singing group, Bubblegum Boys,
has chosen our very own Kennedy
High as the site to film their
next music video.

There is a general chorus of shrieks from the girls in the
hall.

CARMEN
(muttering)
Well, there goes the big secret.

KRUPPS (V.O.)
In addition to candid shots of the
students and teachers going about
their business, several students
will be selected to have featured
roles in the video. There will be
two principle dancers—female—who
will be chosen from the student
body at large. Also, one student
will be picked to portray the lead
singer's girlfriend. For this
part, I am informed that the band
is looking for an authentic
California girl; therefore, only
students born and raised in
California will be considered.
Sign-up sheets for auditions are
now posted outside the auditorium.

The loudspeaker clicks off, and Carmen and Mary Cherry look at
each other sourly.

MARY CHERRY
Well, dang, if that don't beat
all!

CARMEN
(thinking)
Wait a minute...did he say...?

MARY CHERRY
Dancers!

The two girls share a wide-eyed look—and then go running pell-
mell down the hall, pushing and shoving each other out of the
way. Harrison watches them go, shakes his head in
befuddlement, and goes on his own way.

CUT TO:

INT. MCQUEEN LIVING ROOM

Sam is wandering around the room, doing nothing more than
picking things up, looking them over and setting them back
down in a disturbingly detached way.

The phone rings.

Sam spins around, horrified at the sound. For four rings she
just stands there, frozen. Then the answering machine clicks
on.

MIKE (V.O.)
(on the machine)
Hi, you've reached the home of
Mike and Brooke McQueen, and Jane
and Sam McPherson. We're all
otherwise occupied at the moment,
so please leave a message after
the beep.

The machine beeps.

FLEISCHER (V.O.)
(over the machine's speaker)
This is Art Fleischer, calling for
Sam. I know it's been a bit
longer than I said it would be,
but if you could call me back at—

Spurred into action, Sam reaches for the phone and picks it
up.

SAM
(into the phone)
Mr. Fleischer? It's Sam.

FLEISCHER (V.O.)
Sam? Ah—I do that, too.

SAM
I'm...sorry?

FLEISCHER (V.O.)
Screen my calls.

SAM
I—

FLEISCHER (V.O.)
Yes?

SAM
I—thought you forgot about me.

FLEISCHER (V.O.)
Well, obviously a lot's happened,
but no, I didn't forget about you.
Actually, we've been in a kind of
"all hands on deck" mode for the
past couple weeks. We could use
all the help we can get—including
yours, if you're willing.

SAM
I...I guess so.

FLEISCHER (V.O.)
Good! How about now? Say, my
office, in an hour?

SAM
Uh...all right, Mr. Fleischer.

FLEISCHER (V.O.)
I'll see you then. Oh—and, Sam?

SAM
Yes?

FLEISCHER (V.O.)
It's Art.

SAM
Right.

After she hangs up the phone, Sam shakes herself—literally—
and heads for the stairs.

CUT TO:

INT. CAFETERIA - NOON

Lily and Josh make an appearance at the entrance to the
lunchroom.

JOSH
I just think you're making too big
a deal about this, that's all.

LILY
Josh! It's a very big deal! It's
totally discriminatory that
they're only considering
California girls for this part! I
mean, so they want some
bubble-headed, over-peroxided,
Valley surfer girl. What
difference does it make whether
she's from L.A. or El Paso?

JOSH
(puzzled)
El Paso's not in California?

Lily just looks askance at him.

JOSH (CONT'D)
Lily, you don't...WANT this part,
do you?

LILY
No! But I should still have the
opportunity to try out, even if I
don't want to!

JOSH
But...weren't you born and raised
here?

LILY
(exasperated)
OTHER PEOPLE should have the
opportunity to try out, even if
THEY don't want to!

Miss Glass, who seems to have caught the end of this exchange,
steps up behind them.

GLASS
If I might make a delicate
suggestion, Miss Esposito—get a
life!

Lily turns, outraged.

LILY
Excuse me? And it's MRS. Ford!

GLASS
Whatever. The only thing I can
think of that could be worse than
this mindless, pop culture, music
video crap is some mindless, P.C.
obsessed idiot getting worked up
enough to make a fuss about it.
Do everyone a favor—go save a
whale.

Miss Glass walks off, leaving Lily staring after her open
mouthed.

JOSH
Toldya you were making too big a
deal out of it.

Lily snaps her mouth shut and smacks Josh on the arm.

JOSH (CONT'D)
Oww!

SWEEP CUT TO:

INT. ANOTHER PART OF THE CAFETERIA

Carmen and Mary Cherry are sitting at one of the tables,
across from Brooke and George, who seems less than interested
in the pair's exploits.

MARY CHERRY
It was perfect! We were gonna
convince the Bubblegum Boys to let
the Glamazons dance in their
video, and then Bring It woulda
bought it.
(pouts)
Then Principal Krupps had to go
and spoil everything by letting
everyone in on it.

BROOKE
I can't believe you guys are still
on this.

CARMEN
Hey, restoring the Glamazons is
our patriotic duty.

Brooke and George look at each other.

BROOKE
(aside to George)
Are YOU gonna ask?

GEORGE
No way. You?

BROOKE
Not a chance.

Brooke turns back to the girls.

BROOKE (CONT'D)
Can't you guys just try out for
the dancing parts?

CARMEN
We are.

MARY CHERRY
Yeah, but now we have to compete
fair and square against those
Bring It people. And if there's
anything I hate, it's playing
fair.

BROOKE
Now you sound like Nicole.

MARY CHERRY
(wounded)
That is truly a low blow, Brooke.

BROOKE
Sorry.

GEORGE
Hey, maybe you should try out for
the girlfriend part, too.

CARMEN
You think so? I would give
anything to play B.J.'s girl.

She looks down at herself critically, the dreamy expression
fading from her face.

CARMEN (CONT'D)
I'm not sure I'm exactly what
they're looking for.

GEORGE
I guess you wouldn't qualify, Mary
Cherry. Seeing as how you have to
be from California and all.

MARY CHERRY
What? I would so!

CARMEN
(laughing)
Only if you suddenly developed
laryngitis.

MARY CHERRY
(snapping her fingers)
Laryngitis!

Mary Cherry leaps from her seat and scurries off. Carmen
looks across at Brooke and George, dismayed.

CARMEN
I didn't just give her that idea,
did I?

GEORGE
(chuckling)
Afraid so.

CARMEN
Well, how was I supposed to know?

BROOKE
Around Mary Cherry?

CARMEN
All right, you've got a point.

GEORGE
That's one of the first things I
learned when I came here—around
Mary Cherry, anything's possible.

CARMEN
(to Brooke)
You know, maybe YOU oughta try
out. You'd look spectacular on
B.J. Tucker's arm.

GEORGE
Yeah, Brooke, you've got that
classic California look going.

BROOKE
(grimacing)
Yeah...B.J.'s gimpy girlfriend. I
don't think so.

CARMEN
Maybe you don't have to move
around. Maybe you just have to
sit there and look totally in
love.

BROOKE
I don't think I know how to do
that.

GEORGE
Unfortunately, I do.

What might have been the start of an awkward silence is
summarily broken by Mary Cherry, who stomps back into the
scene and plops herself down in a huff.

BROOKE
(innocently)
Problem?

MARY CHERRY
That laryngitis idea won't work—
it's a SPEAKING part! Plus,
they're gonna check people's birth
certificates.

CARMEN
Well, of course they are.

MARY CHERRY
I guess I'll just have to fake me
some birth records.

GEORGE
You gonna fake an accent while
you're at it?

MARY CHERRY
Mister, I will do whatever it
takes to make sure that a Glamazon
gets that role.

CARMEN
I was just saying that Brooke
should try out.

MARY CHERRY
(awed)
Why, Carmen! That's even better
than laryngitis!

BROOKE
Oh, please, not you too.

MARY CHERRY
But, Brooke! You look the part so
well!

GEORGE
I already told her that.

BROOKE
But I can't MOVE the part.

MARY CHERRY
Details!

Brooke's eyes narrow dangerously.

BROOKE
My leg having been broken in eight
places is NOT a detail.

Mary Cherry glances at Carmen, and decides to change tactics.

MARY CHERRY
(fake-offhandedly)
Yeah, and even if you did try out,
that Sam person would probably
mosey along and steal it right out
from under you, like she did with
that contest a while back.

GEORGE
Sam wouldn't do that. She's got a
lot going on right now.

BROOKE
Besides, Sam isn't like that.

GEORGE
Besides, Sam isn't even eligible.

MARY CHERRY
Huh?

GEORGE
Well...you have to be born and
raised in California, right? That
leaves Sam out.

MARY CHERRY
What's that supposed to mean?

George and Brooke exchange another look.

BROOKE
Sam was born in New York. Her
parents moved here when she was
six.

MARY CHERRY
(chewing that over)
Huh...I never knew that.

GEORGE
Well—I better go.

George gets up, but Brooke puts out a hand to stop him.

BROOKE
George, wait? Walk me to my next
class?

GEORGE
Uh, sure.

Brooke gets up in her still-awkward way.

MARY CHERRY
About the part—

BROOKE
(severely)
We will NOT talk about that later.

She and George head off.

MARY CHERRY
(aside to Carmen)
She'll come around.

Carmen just shakes her head resignedly.

CUT TO:

INT. SCHOOL HALLWAY - MOMENTS LATER

Brooke and George are moving at about three-quarters speed
down the hall.

GEORGE
So, what's going on? Or was I
just a convenient escape from Mary
Cherry?

BROOKE
(hesitantly)
You haven't checked on Sam.

GEORGE
Sure I have. I ask you how she's
doing.

BROOKE
You know what I mean.

GEORGE
(sighs)
She's got Harrison to be there for
her.

BROOKE
Yeah, but you could be there for
her, too.

GEORGE
Look, I appreciate what you did
for me and Sam—getting the air
cleared and all that. I just—I
can't be that kind of friends with
Sam. Not now. Not yet.

BROOKE
She needs you, George. She needs
you to be whatever kind of friend
you can.

GEORGE
But, Harrison—

BROOKE
She needs more than just Harrison.
What if—?

George stops and looks at her quizzically.

GEORGE
What if what?

BROOKE
What if...Sam and Harrison didn't
work out?

GEORGE
If you're asking, could we
magically go back to the way we
were before, then the answer is
no.

BROOKE
But—

GEORGE
Brooke, Sam never really loved me.
She liked me, but she only chose
me over Harrison because she was
afraid that a romance between them
might go sour and ruin their
friendship.
(shrugs)
You can't build love out of
something like that.

BROOKE
But if she had a chance—

GEORGE
(suspiciously)
Do you know something about Sam
and Harrison that you're not
telling me?

Brooke suddenly realizes what she's been saying, and hastily
backtracks.

BROOKE
(emphatically)
No! Absolutely not! Me? I—no.

GEORGE
Do you even tell Sam that I ask
about her?

BROOKE
Sam and I—don't talk much. We
don't fight, or anything, we
just...don't talk much.

George stops in front of a classroom doorway.

GEORGE
(nodding)
We're here.

BROOKE
What?

GEORGE
Your next class?

BROOKE
(regrouping)
Oh...right.

For a long moment, nothing happens.

GEORGE
Well...okay.

He turns and starts to walk away.

BROOKE
Just—

George turns back and waits expectantly.

BROOKE (CONT'D)
(wistfully)
Nothing.

She turns and disappears into the classroom.

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT TWO